Imam Shafiee's tips on how to embrace knowledge in both Science and Islam. U'll not embrace knowledge except through these points:
- Dzakawah (aqal) means a quick aqal. It's not about the mental ability to answer maths questions quickly etc but it deals with how well we take care of our intellect. This is because it will lead to the opening of heart and ilm so that we will successful in our life. To illustrate this point, many people saw the apples fell down the trees but only Sir Isaac Newton noticed and study about it which later led to his discovery of the gravity. So, do take care of our intellect by keeping our relationship with Allah so that Allah will ease our effort to seek knowledge. Dont fill our mind with unnecessary things.
- Hufzun (the zeal) you need to have that zeal. But dont be too extreme on both, or you will become 'zealot' then. Balance both. You have to have the kemahuan for that, without kemahuan, you will not get the knowledge.
- Iftikarun (poverty) not the literally 'poor' but what Imam Shafiee meant was you have to realise that you are poor in knowledge in order to embrace knowledge. He or she is aware the fact that he she is poor in ilm. So, be humble with your ilm. Dont be arrogant, know your limitations.
- Ghurbatun (a foreign land) It means go outside your kampung/ go travel to seek knowledge at other places. Do not have the fear for others. People are the enemies of what they are ignorant of. If your religion is strong enough, you wont face any faith problems if you go our from your place to travel to study. and for those who have migrated, make sure you are both physically and mentally migrated
- Syahbatun Ustazin (Teacher's inspiration) If you want to embrace knowledge, you need to have the right teacher(s). The right teacher(s) to get the isnpiration. Any religion always has a pediment. To exemplify, you are a medical student but you do not study the human body, the real human body. You just study the book. So how's that going to be? He adds that if let say you are interested to study about fiqh/Islamic study more deeply, he encourages you to go for the teacher(s) or one-to-one teaching technique.
- Tuluzzamani (to have a long life) If you have no control of your life, you do not know when are you going to die. Even if you finish studying your degree, dont stop embracing knowledge. Seek knowledge from cradle to the grave; that's what Islam teaches us. Learning is a life long process. Always pray you have a long life (for the purpose of) seeking knowledge to be used for the benefit of others.
Wallahu a'lam. To conclude, the six points about the ways to embrace knowledge can be divided into six: kecerdikan, kesungguhan, ketekunan, kecekalan, bersama dengan guru dan masa yang panjang (quoted from a website page). I did try to find out more but i found different version(s) especially on the iftikaruun part.